Another 33 neonatologists resign from hospitals in Central Department

The crisis in Paraguay’s public healthcare system deepened Friday as 33 neonatologists resigned from hospitals in San Lorenzo and Villa Elisa.

At San Lorenzo General Hospital, also known as Calle’i Hospital, 20 of the 30 neonatologists on staff submitted their resignations. The departures represent 70% of the hospital’s specialized neonatology team. María Cristina Godoy, the service coordinator, said conditions had become impossible for specialists working under the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare.

“We reached a point where it is impossible to sustain this,” Godoy said. She also reported shortages of essential supplies for patients, including basic medicines such as antibiotics.

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We reached a point where it is impossible to sustain this.

Villa Elisa General Hospital lost 13 of its 18 neonatologists after they formally submitted resignations to the ministry. Raúl Moreno, coordinator of neonatal intensive care, said the decision followed demands that received no concrete response from authorities.

“We reached this extreme because we see no response from the government. This is not an easy decision for us to make,” Moreno said. He described the state’s response as calamitous and warned of possible consequences for patients and their families.

The resignations followed earlier departures by about 70 pediatric intensive-care doctors at the Acosta Ñu, Trauma and Itauguá National hospitals, as well as 30 neonatologists at Itauguá National Hospital. In total, 133 doctors left their positions in a single day. They are demanding an increase of 3 million guaraníes for each 12-hour contract, more secure employment conditions, and continuous supplies of medicines and medical materials.

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We reached this extreme because we see no response from the government. This is not an easy decision for us to make.